The Players editorial team has prepared a digest of the main news stories for May 23, 2026.
Advertisement for Moscow LAN Tournament Appears on the Official Team Fortress 2 Blog
- Valve has come under heavy criticism after an announcement for a LAN tournament set to take place in Moscow, Russia, appeared on the official Team Fortress 2 blog on Steam.
Counter-Strike 2 Receives New Update (23.05)
- Valve has released another update for Counter-Strike 2. Players can now purchase the Viewer Pass, participate in the Pick'Em Challenge, and access a new reward system tied to the biggest tournament of the year. In addition, the developers introduced several interface fixes, improved certain visual effects, and added new options for using souvenir items in Trade Up contracts.
All Participants for VALORANT Masters London 2026 Confirmed
- Some regional VCT leagues have already concluded, while the top three teams from VCT Americas have now been decided. As a result, all 12 teams that will compete at VALORANT Masters London 2026 are officially confirmed.
Microsoft to Pay $250 Million to Settle Activision Blizzard Shareholder Lawsuit
- Microsoft has agreed to pay $250 million to resolve a legal dispute with shareholders over its $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Compensation will be provided to investors who suffered losses related to the deal once the settlement receives final court approval.
EA Sports FC 26 to Feature Unofficial “The World’s Game” World Championship Mode
- The upcoming football simulator EA Sports FC 26 will not include an official FIFA World Cup 2026 license. Instead, the developers are preparing a major update featuring their own international tournament mode. The news was reported by the Soccer Gaming portal.